WordPress vs Jamstack: A Deep Dive into the Pros and Cons

In this digital era, the success of your business largely depends on the effectiveness of your marketing website. As a growing company in need of a high-performance website, you will likely encounter two options: WordPress and Jamstack. While both are online terms, it is crucial to understand their true meanings and the differences between them. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating worlds of WordPress and Jamstack and provide a comprehensive overview of these two powerful technologies. We will discuss their fundamental features and highlight the key distinctions between them, to help you determine which one is best suited for your organization's needs.

 What is WordPress?

It is an open-source content management system (CMS) that was initially launched in 2003. Over the years, it has become one of the most widely used CMS platforms globally, powering more than 40% of all websites on the internet. WordPress offers users numerous options for customization, themes, and plugins, making it easy for individuals to create and manage their websites. It can be used to build virtually any kind of website, from personal blogs to large-scale e-commerce sites.

What is Jamstack?

Jamstack, on the other hand, is not a product. Instead, it is a modern web development architecture that was first introduced in 2015. Compared to WordPress, it is a fairly new way of building websites, but its speed and ability to grow have made it more popular in recent years.

Many Jamstack sites use a static site generator, which means that it generates static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that can be served from a CDN (Content Delivery Network). Having a static website has many advantages, such as faster load times, better security, and lower hosting costs.

What are the key differences between WordPress and Jamstack

Website Performance and Speed

Speed and performance of a website are two of the most important things that determine its success. Visitors are unlikely to stick around if a website takes too long to load or is slow to respond. So, businesses need to make sure their sites are quick and responsive so that users have a good time. Search engines also reward websites that are fast with higher SEO rankings, so having a fast, well-performing site is crucial. 

WordPress Performance and Speed

WordPress is a platform that responds to user requests by making pages on the fly. This means that it requires server-side processing, which can affect the speed and performance of a WordPress site. The performance can also be impacted by the number of plugins and themes that are installed, as well as the quality of the hosting.

However, there are many ways to optimize the performance and speed of a WordPress site. Some ways to improve the performance are to use a caching plugin, minify CSS and JavaScript files, and optimize images.

Jamstack Performance and Speed

Jamstack, on the other hand, is a static site generator that generates static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that can be served from a CDN. This way of making websites has many advantages, such as faster load times, better security, and lower hosting costs. Because Jamstack sites are served from a CDN, they are also highly scalable, allowing them to handle large amounts of traffic with ease.

Comparing Website Speed of WordPress and Jamstack

WordPress and Jamstack have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to website performance and speed. WordPress sites can be optimized to perform well, but because they are dynamic, they are always slower. Jamstack sites are faster by design and don't require any optimization, but they are also more limited in terms of customization. Ultimately, the choice between WordPress and Jamstack will depend on the specific needs and goals of the website owner.

Security and Maintenance

Businesses must consider two critical factors while developing and managing their online presence: website security and upkeep. A secure website is critical for securing sensitive information and retaining visitor trust, while regular maintenance is required to keep a website working efficiently and avoiding downtime. In this section, we'll look at the security and upkeep of WordPress and Jamstack websites.

WordPress Security and Maintenance

WordPress is a dynamic platform that uses server side rendering and requires frequent maintenance and security updates. WordPress's open-source nature makes it a popular target for hackers, and website owners must take precautions to secure their sites and avoid assaults.

This can involve employing security plugins, upgrading the WordPress core and plugins on a regular basis, and using a secure hosting provider.

However, maintaining and securing a WordPress site can be time-consuming and complex, particularly for people unfamiliar with web development. As a result, website owners must be willing to invest time and resources in maintaining and protecting their website.

Jamstack Security and Maintenance

A Jamstack site produces static files that does not require any server-side processing, making it a safer website construction option. Because Jamstack webpages are simply static files, delivered from a CDN, they are less vulnerable to attacks. A CDN acts as a buffer between your website and sensitive information. In addition, because Jamstack sites are static files, they are easier to operate because they do not require regular updates or security fixes. However, you must keep the code that builds the site updated; this is less of a concern since this code isn't always public.

Comparing Security and Maintenance of WordPress and Jamstack

When it comes to security and maintenance, it's undeniable that Jamstack outshines WordPress. Jamstack websites are significantly more secure than WordPress sites, which are vulnerable to attacks due to their dynamic nature and reliance on server-side processing.

While WordPress sites can be made more secure by using security plugins and performing frequent upgrades, Jamstack sites are considerably easier to manage without sacrificing security. However, it is crucial to note that Jamstack sites may have some customization limits when compared to WordPress.

Jamstack is the clear victor in terms of security and maintenance. Jamstack websites are more secure and simple to manage, whereas WordPress sites are more configurable but fundamentally more insecure. 

Customization and Flexibility

Businesses that want their online presence to reflect their unique brand and meet the needs of their target audience need to be able to customize and adapt their sites. In this section, we will compare the customization and flexibility of WordPress and Jamstack websites.

WordPress Customization and Flexibility

WordPress is a very flexible and customizable platform that has a lot of themes, plugins, and ways to change things. WordPress users can make almost any kind of website, from small personal blogs to large e-commerce sites, with limited technical knowledge. WordPress is a popular choice for businesses that want to give their content creators full control over how their website looks and works. This is because WordPress has a wide range of customization options and plugins. 

One of the most popular plugins is called Advanced Custom Fields. With this plugin, you can make custom blocks of content that can be reused in a structured way. However, headless content management systems, like Contentful, are built to give you this flexibility out of the box. 

WordPress' adaptability and versatility can be a double-edged sword. The vast number of customization choices and plugins available might make WordPress a difficult platform to deal with, particularly for people unfamiliar with web technologies. Furthermore, maintaining and updating plugins and themes can be time-consuming and complex.

Jamstack Customization and Flexibility

Jamstack, on the other hand, is a static site generator that uses pre-defined templates and components. It is less flexible and configurable than WordPress because content creators have to work with the templates and components that are available at the time.

This is a good thing because it lets website owners focus on making content instead of figuring out how to use all the different customization options and plugins. It also allows developers to create new components that follow predefined constraints, making it easier to update and maintain high-quality pages across a large website. 

This method is also liked by designers at big companies because it lets them enforce brand guidelines across their whole digital business. This method of building websites is known as "composable architecture," and you can learn more about it in this blog post.

Comparing Customization and Flexibility of WordPress and Jamstack

You might think that WordPress is the clear winner when it comes to customization and flexibility because it has so many options and plugins for customization. However, this flexibility can result in a complex and time-consuming infrastructure that is difficult to upgrade and scale over time.

Jamstack's simplicity and ease of use allow website owners to focus on content creation rather than becoming weighed down in countless customization options and plugins. Because of its emphasis on composable architecture and ease of use, Jamstack is a superior choice for businesses looking for a scalable solution that will grow with their business. 

You can always add more components over time, but it is done in a more deliberate and thought-out manner, making it much easier to scale, especially in large organizations with a diverse set of digital properties.

Ease of Use and User Experience

The experience of creating content is a vital aspect of the success of any website. For content creators to make high-quality pages that attract users and drive conversions, they need a website builder that is easy to use and makes it easy to create content. In this section, we'll compare how easy WordPress and Jamstack websites are to use and how well they can create content.

WordPress Ease of Use and User Experience

WordPress is a very flexible and customizable platform that can be complex and time-consuming to use. For those who are unfamiliar with web development, the sheer quantity of customization choices and plugins available for WordPress can be daunting.

Despite its complexity, WordPress provides a high-quality user experience. Since there are so many well-documented WordPress themes and plugins, content creators can make a unique and interesting user experience that fits their audience's needs.

Divi and Gutenberg are two of the most popular WordPress plugins for generating pages. Both provide content creators with significant flexibility over the style of the page, but at a high expense. It injects very specialized code into the pages, making it nearly impossible to update and maintain brand consistency across a large number of pages.

Jamstack Ease of Use and User Experience

Content creators that value personalization and flexibility may view Jamstack as a disadvantage. Jamstack's reliance on pre-built themes and components can make it harder for content producers to create a one-time user experience that meets the needs of their target audience.

Because Jamstack sites use a composable architecture with a headless CMS, they can sometimes be hard to use because there are so many ways to set them up. Some site configurations can be overly complicated, which makes it hard for users to make content. Even though being able to reuse parts on multiple pages can be very helpful in terms of scalability and long-term costs, it can be hard to make content.

Last Rev is always making new tools, like the Sidekick and Live editor, to make Jamstack's editor more "what you see is what you get." We recognize that content creators expect simple-to-use technologies that make sense. You get the best of both worlds when you use our tools: simplicity and scalability.

Comparing Ease of Use and User Experience of WordPress and Jamstack

WordPress and Jamstack have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to ease of use and user experience. WordPress is a highly flexible and customizable platform for content creators, but at the expense of scalability and long-term maintenance costs. Jamstack is a more scalable solution for building websites, but it can also be seen as a drawback for those who value customization and flexibility. 

Cost and Affordability

When it comes to establishing an online presence without breaking the bank, the cost of developing a website and its affordability are critical factors for businesses to consider. In this section, we will examine the true expenses of building and maintaining websites produced using WordPress and Jamstack, taking into account both the short-term and long-term costs.

WordPress Cost and Affordability

WordPress is a free open-source platform, but website owners must pay for hosting as well as any premium plugins or themes that they choose to use. The cost of a WordPress site depends a lot on the hosting service, plugins, and themes that are chosen. In general, a basic WordPress template can be cheap or even free, but the cost can go up quickly as the site owner adds more plugins and customization options.

Also, keeping a WordPress site up-to-date and making sure it is secure can take a lot of time and effort, as it may need frequent upgrades and security patches. This can make a WordPress site more expensive overall because businesses have to spend time and money maintaining and protecting their site.

Jamstack Cost and Affordability

The cost of a free Wordpress template will always be much lower than the cost of a Jamstack site. Jamstack sites need more planning and usually require you to hire a developer to put together your first set of components.

Because there is no need for server-side processing or regular updates and security patches, the cost of just hosting a Jamstack site is often less than that of a WordPress website. Most of the time, it's best to invest in a platform like Netlify or Vercel to cut down on total website development time and early setup.

However, Jamstack outperforms Wordpress in terms of long-term expenses and scalability. Because Jamstack sites are built in a modular way, the cost of keeping them up to date is lower than that of Wordpress sites over time.

Comparing Cost and Affordability of WordPress and Jamstack

The cost of any website can vary substantially depending on each business's needs. Even though WordPress is a free open-source platform, the cost of adding more customization options and plugins, as well as the cost of maintaining and protecting the site, may soon add up.

Jamstack sites, on the other hand, have a greater initial cost, but hosting costs are frequently lower, and the modular construction makes updating and maintaining the site more cost-effective over time.

The initial cost of building a Jamstack website is sometimes impractical, particularly for small businesses just getting started. But if your business is growing and you have money to invest, the long-term benefits of a Jamstack site can help you set up a powerful and scalable digital infrastructure that can grow as your business does.

Is JAMstack better than Wordpress?

It is crucial to evaluate your individual requirements and goals while deciding between WordPress and Jamstack. WordPress may be a good alternative if you value customization choices and flexibility while keeping initial costs low.

However, if you want a scalable, secure, high-performing website with reduced maintenance expenses and greater brand control, Jamstack is the superior alternative.

While using a free WordPress template may appear to be more convenient in the short term, the long-term benefits of a Jamstack site will far surpass the short-term benefits of a WordPress site. If you need help deciding what is best for your company, consider asking Last Rev for a complete digital audit and consultation.